AMNRL

[jim]

Well I am excited about this year's AMNRL, by the sounds of things it is shaping as the best ever in it's 11th season. Jacksonville should see bigger crowds now after the ADC in january. I was reading somewhere the other day that spinner howland says the axemen have about 3,000 fans altogether now. Not sure what he's refering to but that is a good sign.

I hope the crowd figures from saturdays game are released, that will give us a decent guide as to where the comp is at ATM. Althgough the Fight aren't the strongest club so may not get that great of crowds.

[jim]

I heard that the Axemen game tyhe other day got 1700. That is a pretty good crowd, better than i expected TBH.

[jim]

Here are the current standings with 1 round to go:

PlaceTeam / Record / Points
1. Bulls / 7-0 / 35
2. Warriors / 7-0 / 35
3. Axemen / 4-3 / 22
4. Wildcats / 4-2-1 / 21*
5. Knights / 3-3-1 / 20
6. Slayers / 4-3 / 18*
7. Eagles / 2-5 /13
8. Sharks / 2-5 / 12
9. Fight / 1-6 / 6
10. Raiders / 0-7 / -3*

* = penalized 3 points by league

Bulls and Warriors undefeated and it looks like the first time they'll meet this year will be the GF unless another club like Jax, Knight or Wildcats beat them.

So the top 6 is already sewn up and all Jax need to do to get a home semi is beat the fight this weekend at home. Also they broke a crowd record against the Warriors last week, Close to if not over 2000 from what I hear. If they get a home semi I imagine 3000+ would be achievable.

[jim]

I think some changes need to be made in the AMNRL for it to go forward.

Firstly would be to create a 2nd division, AMNRL teams with sufficient players could enter a team in the 2nd division aswell as maybe relegating weaker ametuer teams like Northern Raiders. I know the Bradenton Bulls have a game against the Jax Axe 2nds team this week.

The top flight could then consist of 8-12 semi-pro teams, with an expansion team within the next 2 years from Chicago or LA. All AMNRL teams should be getting crowds of 250+ Jacksonville is a greatb example of what some simple advertising work can do. From what I know no other clubs crowds compare to theirs. Surely the other clubs should be promoting themselfs to get good crowds. If NY Knights for example did a bit of promotion work they could easily get crowds of 1000.

The 2nd divison would provide a place for new teams to enter, kind of like NL before stepping up to SL if you know what I mean. The AMNRL seems to be just set on turning their comp pro instead of consentrating on junior development and crowds etc.

The Jacksonville Axemen hacve surpassed all other teams in the last 2 years by simply doing promotion work. Surely the guys at New York Knights or Connecticuit Wildcats could arrange something similar to the Aussie day Challenge.

The Philly Fight have moved into Farrell Stadium so since they live in a massive city and are a semi pro club surely they could get crowds of 200-500 easily.

[Druzik]

There does seem to be something amiss there doesn't it. But I think the problem would be that not many people in the USA would go see a second division team. There it the frnchise way or the high way!

[jim]

Jul 30, 2008 23:29:45 GMT 10 Druzik said:

There does seem to be something amiss there doesn't it. But I think the problem would be that not many people in the USA would go see a second division team. There it the frnchise way or the high way!

hmm yes but crowds would not necessarily be the point of a 2nd division, to develop players and try and make the top league more competitive. Most 2nd division games could be played before AMNRL clashes much like premier league (now NSW Cup) games used to take place before NRL but not all of them.

If League is ever going to become big in the USA there needs to be a lower division. In time all AMNRL teams could have 2nds teams, that might mean having three divisions like SL/NL. Also I think it's being worked on but getting League into schools is also critical, then the calibre will be better because players will be able to play league from a younger age.

From what I understand, there are 11 RL clubs in the USA. Some AMNRL teams have 30-40 players and if they don't make the top side they don't play simple as that.

State and/or city club comps are a long way off.

[Ryan N]

JUNIORS! Basically you can have that organized next year. U/16s and U/18s. Every team should field these two age divisions. If kids are younger then that then school programs can work it out. My reasoning is at 16 most of the kids get bigger and stronger and either get more skill in NFL, Soccer etc. and the smaller and less able players miss out. Market Rugby League as their option. You would only need one or two schools in a district involved and that should be sufficient to get interest formed. 11 teams, 2 rep sides (north and south) and then a national side. U/16s and U/18s, give them some goals to achieve. That's your juniors worked out.

[jim]

Jul 31, 2008 14:37:28 GMT 10 Ryan N said:

JUNIORS! Basically you can have that organized next year. U/16s and U/18s. Every team should field these two age divisions. If kids are younger then that then school programs can work it out. My reasoning is at 16 most of the kids get bigger and stronger and either get more skill in NFL, Soccer etc. and the smaller and less able players miss out. Market Rugby League as their option. You would only need one or two schools in a district involved and that should be sufficient to get interest formed. 11 teams, 2 rep sides (north and south) and then a national side. U/16s and U/18s, give them some goals to achieve. That's your juniors worked out.

That too, Ideally in 5-10 years time there should be 20 or there abouts clubs, now not all in the top division, 10-12 of the best applicants in the top division with the rest in 2nd or 3rd division playing with top division clubs second and third teams.

Also U-18 and U-16 juniors like Ryan mentioned.

In ten years I would like to see RL played in schools, 20+ clubs in america, all top flight teams have atleast 2 divisions, 2 teams from the west coast, and Clubs having juniors.

It will take some work but it has to be done and hopefully will be.

[jim]

Next week the final start.

Bulls and Warriors get a bye this week for finishing 1st and 2nd. The 2 games this week are Axemen V Slayers and Wildcats V Knights.

Should be a big crowd for the Axemen game and hopefully all games from now can get over 1000.

[jim]

I'm sure this will excite at least some people; myself and the nice people over at ARN are looking to team up and broadcast the GF online LIVE for the first time ever. This would be a great way for guys outside the country and tons of folks within the US to see this game. Also the game against NZ as the curtain raiser.

What do you guys think about this?

Found this on LU, sounds like they're tring to get the AMNRL GF broadcast online.

Hope they can get it done. I'd tune in for sure.

[beez]

The Fencibles fly out to America - 08 August 2008
Today the New Zealand Police Rugby League team the Fencibles fly out to America for a tour of America, starting off in Florida, and finishing up on 23 August against the USA All Stars Development Squad, which will be the curtain-raiser to the American National Rugby League Grand Final day.

www.nzrl.co.nz

There was a thing on this on MaoriTV last night but I only saw the very end (I think it's replayed on Sunday). They said Tawera Nikau and Matua Parkinson (ex Union player/Bulldog) were going over and might provide some footage for MaoriTV.

[jim]

Finals Round 1 results

Axemen 36 def Slayers 22
Wildcats 52 def Knights 18

Peliminary Finals
Warriors V Axemen
Bulls V Wildcats

Warriors and Bulls for mine although Axemen and Wildcats will both be hard to beat judgin by those results.

[jim]

Apparently Axemen have withdrawn from the finals and now the Knights will play the Warriors.

Dissapointing for them.

I heard they got a mention at the Jaguars game last week and got up on th big screen. That's great news! ;D